Assigned to APPROP                                                                                 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1169

 

biennial budget; second regular session

 

Purpose

 

An emergency measure that moves, from the first regular session of each Legislature to the second regular session, the enactment of the State’s biennial budget.  Makes conforming changes to the strategic program area review process.  Requires the FY 2001-2002 budget to be prepared and enacted as an annual budget.

 

Background

 

In 1993, the Legislature converted small and medium sized budget units to a biennial budget cycle and established the program authorization review (PAR) process to evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of state programs (Laws 1993, Chapter 252).  In 1997, the eleven largest budget units were placed on the biennial cycle, effective FY 1999-2000 and FY 2000-2001 (Laws 1997, Chapter 210).  Laws 1997 provided that the major emphasis of the first regular session of each Legislature would be budgetary review and approval, while program evaluations and PARs would be conducted during the second regular session.  In 1999, the PAR process was streamlined and renamed the strategic program area review (SPAR) process (Laws 1999, Chapter 148).  The SPAR process has continued to take place during the second regular session of the Legislature, but is more focussed on the review of interrelated programs.

 

S.B. 1169 modifies the time-table for budget enactment and SPAR review.  Under this legislation, the budget is enacted during the second regular session, and programs are evaluated during the first regular session.

 

There is no discernable fiscal impact associated with this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Moves, from the first regular session of each Legislature to the second regular session, the enactment of the State’s biennial budget.

 

2.      Moves, from the second regular session of each Legislature to the first regular session, strategic program area reviews.

 

3.      Requires the FY 2001-2002 budget to be prepared and appropriated as an annual budget, with the new biennial budget cycle beginning in 2002 for FY 2002-2003 and FY 2003-2004.

 

 

 

 

 

4.      Makes technical and conforming changes.

 

5.      Contains an emergency clause.

 

Amendments Adopted in Committee of the Whole

 

1.      Speeds up the modification of the biennial budgeting cycle, requiring the FY 2001-2002 budget to be prepared and enacted as an annual budget.

 

2.      Adds an emergency clause.

 

Senate Action

 

APPROP                     3/9/01              DP       11-0-1-0

3rd Read                       3/15/01                        29-0-1-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 15, 2001